From Jethro to Moses, Moses to Joshua, Elijah to Elisha, and Paul to Timothy, we see a pattern: God’s work advances when leaders pour into others. Mentoring is not about competition—it’s about multiplication. When we invest in someone else, we’re extending Kingdom impact far beyond ourselves. You must participate in ministry without competition within the Body of Christ if you are to be successful!

Over the past few weeks ("Activate Abundance" series, choose any of those 4 posts), we’ve seen how unity in the body of Christ grows stronger when we pray for one another, encourage one another, celebrate one another, and refuse to compete with one another. I want to look at another way to build unity: mentoring. Scripture shows us again and again that God’s work thrives when one generation invests in the next, not as rivals, but as partners in Kingdom purpose.

Psalm 145:4 states, “One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts”. This is a powerful reminder to us that faith is not meant to be kept private.  Your gifts are not to be contained within a single lifetime. It’s a sacred responsibility — each generation carries the testimony of God’s goodness, passing it on so the next can run their own race with faith and confidence. When we share our stories of God’s faithfulness, we give our children and spiritual sons and daughters a foundation. Every praise we speak, every miracle we recall, every moment we testify of God’s grace becomes a seed of faith in the next generation—ensuring that His glory is never forgotten.

Let’s look at a few examples of mentorship in the Bible, examples where ministry without competition was chosen:

Jethro and Moses – Wisdom for Leadership

“Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you” Exodus 18:17-19)

When Moses was overwhelmed with leading the people, his father-in-law Jethro stepped in—not to take over, but to mentor him in wise leadership (Exodus 18:13–24.  Oh, how I desperately want to go into a lecture on over-functioning right now, but I’ll demonstrate some self control and stay on track!). Jethro taught Moses to delegate, raising up other leaders so he wouldn’t burn out and so that more people could receive the wisdom and guidance that they needed so badly. This moment of mentoring multiplied effectiveness and preserved Moses’ strength for the long haul.

Moses and Joshua – Preparing the Next Leader

“the Lord said to Moses: ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient” Numbers 27:18-20

Moses invested in Joshua by bringing him close, letting him witness leadership firsthand, and commissioning him publicly (Numbers 27:18–20; Deuteronomy 31:7–8). Moses didn’t treat Joshua as competition, but poured into him so Israel could move forward after his time was done. Look at this phrase: “that all the congregation… may be obedient” (27:20).  This mentorship, one on one, would create a huge, far-reaching impact - and we still feel this today! Joshua’s success was in large part due to Moses’ intentional mentoring. Ministry without competition - Moses wanted Joshua set up for success.

Elijah and Elisha – Passing the Mantle

“Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” 1 Kings 2:9

Don’t miss this: Elijah initiated the question.  Knowing that his time on earth was short (1 Kings 2:1 tells us that the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven), he wants to make sure that Elisha is equipped to continue the work. Feel the weight of this: Elijah has literal minutes left on earth.  We put a big emphasis on “final words”, don’t we?  These words create legacy, these words would be remembered, and Elijah uses this time to find out what else he can do for Elisha.  That’s powerful.  

Elisha followed Elijah closely, serving him and learning from him before stepping into prophetic ministry himself (1 Kings 19:19–21; 2 Kings 2:9–15). Elijah modeled bold faith and obedience in front of Elisha. Elisha asked for and received a “double portion” of his spirit. The mentoring relationship multiplied prophetic impact across generations.  Look at the example: because Elijah refused to compete, Elisha had space and grace to grow into a prophetic ministry - which literally was double the impact of Elijah’s ministry. We talk a lot about the “double portion”, that’s a familiar phrase - but don’t overlook the fact that Elijah initiated this conversation and made space for Elisha’s request.

Elijah paved the way for Elisha’s ministry, and shares in the legacy created here.  That’s a win-win! That's ministry without competition.

Paul and Timothy – Spiritual Sonship

“For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know [Timothy’s] proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel” Philippians 2:21-22

Paul calls Timothy his “true son in the faith.” He discipled him, trained him in doctrine, entrusted him with leadership assignments, and encouraged him to be bold despite his youth (2 Timothy 1:2–6; 1 Corinthians 4:17; Philippians 2:19–22). Timothy carried on Paul’s work, not as a copy, but as a faithful leader shaped through intentional mentoring. In sending him to the Philippians, he gives such a powerful compliment and recommendation: “you know his proven character”. This didn’t take anything away from Paul - Paul’s ministry was so vast and so fruitful. Can you imagine if Paul did not refuse to compete?  Can you imagine if Paul insisted on doing all the work himself, in an effort to keep all the glory for himself? 

"Refuse to Compete" Mentality in Action

Careful, please….. “in an effort to keep all the glory for himself”.  Can you think of any other reason we would have to engage in competition with any of our brothers and sisters in Christ? We have to start living and operating as if John 10:10 is absolutely unequivocally true: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”.  That means abundance for me, abundance for you, abundance for all of us - there is no lack in God.

Let’s circle back really quickly to Psalm 145:4 before we close up for today - “ “One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts”.  Shall  - we don’t have to look at that up in the Strong’s, do we?  It’s not a suggestion like “we could praise God’s works to the next generation” or an encouragement like “we should praise God’s works to the next generation”.  It’s a command - we shall. 

Unfortunately, we have a biblical example of a generation dropping the ball: “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10).  One generation shirked the responsibility and the very next generation did not know the Lord.  Okay, so for this blog that’s a rabbit trail - but it’s a great place to start next week! If you haven’t joined the mailing list yet, do that today! 

Mentoring builds unity and ends competition - and God’s kingdom is expanded exponentially!  Choose collaboration, choose mentorship, choose ministry without competition. That’s a treasure we can enjoy together!

Join me on the Connect Podcast on Youtube and let’s continue this conversation on Thursday! 

In the last few posts, we’ve talked about the power of lifting others up—through prayer, through encouragement, and through collaboration. All of these flow from a heart that values unity in the body of Christ. We’ve got one more obstacle we have to be on guard against if we’re going to walk in true unity: the spirit of competition. Nothing derails teamwork faster than rivalry, jealousy, or the need to “outdo” someone else.  You cannot compete with a member of your own team and win: we are in this together! You must refuse to compete within the Body of Christ.

Paul started encouraging the believers in this a long time ago, this is not a new concept at all. He wrote to the Corinthians, “There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts” (1 Cor. 12:12-14). 

He didn’t stop there - he went on to a rather lengthy explanation of what we probably consider an elementary concept: the body needs eyes, nose, ears, feet, hands - one cannot leave the body to work on its own and they all need each other for the body to work properly.  (I wonder if the Corinthians thought as they listened, “Really, Pastor?  I think we are beyond this!” - but Paul knew differently! They needed the lesson again - and so do we!)

Competition Steals Joy and Kills Collaboration: Refuse to Compete!

God’s call on your life is unique—you’re not running someone else’s race, you’re running your own. Let’s learn how to silence the voice of comparison, embrace our God-given assignments, and celebrate abundance in the body of Christ.

Competition often comes from insecurity and fear of losing what we think belongs to us. That’s what we have called “scarcity mentality” throughout this series (link here).  I’ll say it louder for the people in the back: there is no room for scarcity mentality in the Body of Christ! Please remember: in the Kingdom of God, there’s no scarcity—only abundance. The Bible gives us sobering examples of where jealousy and competition destroyed lives, relationships, and even nations.

Jealousy & Competition in Scripture: A Trail of Destruction

Saul and David

1 Samuel 18:7–9 – “As they danced, they sang: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.’ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. ‘They have credited David with tens of thousands,’ he thought, ‘but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?’ And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.”

• Saul’s jealousy of David turned celebration into suspicion.
• Instead of mentoring the next leader, Saul spent years trying to destroy him.
• Competition blinded Saul to the bigger picture—God’s kingdom was advancing.

David and Absalom

2 Samuel 15:6 – “Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.”

• Absalom wasn’t content to support his father’s throne; he wanted it for himself.
• His ambition divided the kingdom, caused war, and ultimately led to his death.
• Competition drove him to manipulate people rather than serve them.

Mordecai and Haman

Esther 5:13 – “But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

• Haman had wealth, power, and influence, but envy consumed him.
• His jealousy led him to plan genocide against an entire people.
• Competition with Mordecai revealed the emptiness of his heart.

Warnings from Scripture About Envy & Jealousy

Grab your bible and your highlighter, here we go:

James 3:14–16 “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

• Jealousy is not a minor flaw; it opens the door to evil.
• It breeds chaos, division, and destruction.

Galatians 5:19–21 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

• Paul puts jealousy and envy in the same list as idolatry and immorality.
• Competition is not harmless—it is a barrier to the Kingdom of God.

Proverbs 14:30 “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

• Envy corrodes us from the inside out.
• Jealousy doesn’t just damage relationships—it destroys the person holding it.

Honestly, I can keep this up all day - let me stop there before I wear both of us out.  Thanks for staying with me!

Shifting the Lens: The Beauty of Collaboration & Teamwork

Not all stories end in rivalry—many show the fruit of unity and partnership. Where competition kills, collaboration brings life and multiplies impact. Look at the flip side with me: 

David and Jonathan

1 Samuel 18:3–4 – “And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.”

• Jonathan could have seen David as a rival for the throne.
• Instead, he laid down his own claim to stand beside God’s chosen king.
• Collaboration in friendship preserved David’s life and secured Israel’s future.

Paul and Timothy

Philippians 2:19–22 – “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.”

• Timothy wasn’t in competition with Paul—he served alongside him.
• Their collaboration was marked by mutual trust and shared mission.
• This partnership advanced the gospel across the world.

The Early Church

Acts 2:44–47 – “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

• Collaboration wasn’t optional—it was the way the church survived and thrived.
• Unity led to generosity, joy, and exponential growth.

Choosing Abundance over Competition

Competition, the scarcity mentality says: “There’s not enough room for both of us”, “If you are loved, it must be that I am unloved”, “if you are talented/successful, it must mean that I am not talented/succesful”, you see how the downward spiral goes. 

I want to return to Haman and Mordecai for a minute, this is such a powerful and sobering example of the scarcity mentality. Look at this:

“That day Haman was happy. So he left the palace in a good mood. Haman called together his friends and his wife Zeresh…. He bragged to them about how rich he was. He talked about how many sons he had. He spoke about all the ways the king had honored him. He bragged about how the king had given him a high position. It was higher than the position of any of the other nobles and officials. “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to come with the king to the feast she gave. Now she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. But even all of that doesn’t satisfy me. I won’t be satisfied as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the palace gate.” Esther 5:9, 11-13

Don’t miss this: Haman recognizes that Mordecai’s presence has absolutely nothing to do with him.  Even when Mordecai was honored, there was no loss or demotion to Haman in any way.  Somehow, the enemy twisted it in his mind - he adopted an imaginary offense and a scarcity mentality.  Being afraid that he had risen as far as he could go, he decided that the only option was to kick others down in order to make himself look good. Read this book (the Bible) or this book (my commentary on Esther), the scarcity mentality will bring you down.

Teamwork says: “There’s more than enough in the Kingdom of God.” Refusing to compete puts us in line with  Christ’s promise of an abundant life in John 10:10, :I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”. Envy robs us, but unity multiplies blessing. 

Is there someone else in your field? Rejoice because more work is being done!  Is another minister preaching the Word?  Was your church preaching the Word while the church parking lot down the street was also full?  Celebrate that neighbor pastor - Jesus is being glorified! If your co-laborer is winning, friend, guess what?  You are winning too!  

Lay down competition, refuse to participate in jealousy. When we work together, we activate God’s abundance - and receiving His promise, actually living the abundant life that Jesus promises is a treasure that you won’t want to let go!

Let's continue the conversation on the podcast this Thursday! Subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/@JenniferWSpivey so you don't miss it!

For those of you who know me, you know that spiritual friendship and healthy relationships in leadership is something that I invest in (check out my series on God-given friendships on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JenniferWSpivey/playlists). Perhaps through the years, due to those investments, the Lord has had those people in place for me - right people at the right time. Every time I’ve had a change of season, the Lord has blessed me with champions and cheerleaders who were there to encourage me, there to speak life into what God was doing in me.  In turn, I hope I’ve taken every opportunity for speaking life into those God placed in my path as well!

In this season in particular, the Lord has given me practical ways to encourage and speak life into others. I’ve been hosting “work days” around my dining room table and in corners of local coffee shops.  (I need a new name - “work day” makes me think of picking weeds or cleaning out closets at the church. Anyone else remember church work days?).  It’s been so much fun - creating pathways for others to get started doing what they feel like the Lord is calling them to.  It makes me think of Zechariah 4:10 which says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin”. If God is rejoicing/speaking life, I want to rejoice with Him - and be an impetus  for a beginning if I can be!

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So….  lately, I’ve been skipping the history lesson, but let’s have it today just for fun!  (I’m pretending that the history lesson is fun for you, too - just roll with me and I’ll make it short, LOL!):

History Lesson Behind Speaking Life 🙂

You need to know three things: 

1. Who is Zerubbabel? Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah, and he was tasked with rebuilding the Temple after the Babylonian exile (Ezra 3–6, Haggai 1–2).  At the moment Zechariah is prophesying here, the project had been stalled for years due to opposition and limited resources - the people were discouraged.  To see Zerubbabel with the plumb line in his hand was a visible sign that work was beginning again.
2. What is a plumb line? A plumb line is a simple but ancient tool: a cord with a weight at the bottom. Builders used it to establish a true vertical line. By holding it against a wall or structure, they could see if it was straight or leaning. It ensured accuracy and alignment in construction.
3. Why is this important in Zechariah 4? The plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand is significant because seeing Zerubbabel with the plumb line in hand was a visible sign that work was beginning again.

So when Zechariah says “the Lord rejoices to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand”, he is essentially saying: “God is not only going to be pleased with the finished temple, He is rejoicing TODAY at the beginning!”

Can we take this a little step further?  This is just getting good! Hang with me!   

The plumb line wasn’t the first step, the very first step was laying the foundation which had already been done years ago (Ezra 3:10–13). Seeing Zerubbabel raise the plumb line represents a fresh start in rebuilding. Using a plumb line is physically easy, but taking up the plumb line meant choosing to believe again, to press forward against opposition, small numbers, and the memory of Solomon’s grand temple. To use less words: THIS IS BIG! That’s why God tells them “Do not despise these small beginnings.”

The hardest part wasn’t holding the tool—it was mustering the faith, courage, and persistence to start again, trusting that God would bring the work to completion. While the tool itself was simple, the act of picking it up represented a huge step of faith in the face of discouragement.

Okay, are you still with me? Back to the day of small beginnings and speaking life into those in your sphere of influence: 

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Practical Ways of Speaking Life

I’ve had fun around my dining room table or in corners of coffee shops, speaking life into the fresh visions of others.  Want to start a podcast?  I can help you with that!  Want to start a YouTube channel?  Let’s talk!  Want to blog?  I’m excited to help!  It’s a tribute and a passing it forward at the same time: I remember when someone taught me to do these things and more (that was a short list!) and now I’m excited to teach someone else.  Let’s all win! The Lord rejoices to see a work begin - and I do too! As you are mustering the courage to raise the plumb line, to begin, I am cheering you on!

Someone reached out to me recently - “Can you share what you are doing?” Sure I can!  This isn’t me inviting them into a space I own.  This isn’t me creating competition for myself.  This isn’t even me inviting them to join “my” team - if anything, I’m inviting them to join the Lord’s team!  This isn’t mine!  No matter how many women I am privileged to speak into, there’s MORE.  We’re talking about the difference between incremental growth and exponential growth. 

Lots of ways to speak lie and encourage those around you - start with the easiest: leave a comment, “like” or even “love”, share a post. Write a note, send a text, make a phone call. 

Biblical Example of Speaking Life

This wasn’t ever my idea, anyway.  Once again, Jesus directed us first, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).  

Jesus was not afraid of competition, He had no scarcity mentality.  Know what else He said? He said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these” (John 14:12). He spoke LIFE into the disciples and by extension into us: “Go and make disciples who will then in turn also go and make disciples.  You think these things I’ve done are great?  You’re going to do even greater things than this!” Talk about speaking life, wow! Jesus invites us into His space to do even more than He did!

Speak life into the ministry of others - there is no competition here!  Promoting the work of the Lord will activate abundance in your own life! If God is rejoicing, isn’t that all the encouragement we need to rejoice as well? 

Here’s another thing about speaking life, raising that plumb line, beginning: whatever the Lord gives to you is really meant for the Body of Christ.  Truth is His.  Glory is His. Influence is His.  If the Lord has given something to you, He has also given it for the expansion of the Kingdom. You have an insight? Share it. You have a skill set? Share it. You have an encouraging word? Share it. This is not only for you!  What would happen if we kept the good things of the Lord to ourselves, for ourselves?  Yikes.  I won’t go down that rabbit trail - but I’d invite you to do that on your own for a minute.  If the Lord gave it to you, He’s giving it to you to share with those around you.

Thinking back again to Peter inviting the other fishermen to help with the catch (Luke 5), thinking about Jesus who encourages us that we’ll do greater works than He did (John 14).... Thinking back to my childhood pastor telling me, “what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you”, let’s take the opportunity to champion the work of the Lord wherever we see it happen!  

When you see someone “raise the plumb line”, remember the day that you made that seemingly small step yourself - cheer them on! Speaking life into others will activate abundance in your own life - and that’s a treasure!  

Join me on Thursday - let's continue the conversation on the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@JenniferWSpivey and thanks for joining me on the blog today!

In the Kingdom of God, we are called to be cheerleaders not competitors. Competition has no place in Heaven, and it doesn’t reflect the heart of someone who truly understands what God is building. Instead of comparing, striving, or competing with others, we are invited to celebrate the gifts, opportunities, and victories God gives to those around us.

When I spent weeks blogging and podcasting about seasons of transition, I kept returning to this principle: whether you are the incoming leader or the outgoing leader, you are not the comparison—you are the cheerleader. This applies to every single person in the body of Christ. If you are serving Jesus, you are serving the Body—not creating competition within it. I have to say it over and over: we are cheerleaders not competitors!

Cheerleaders Not Competitors: Why Competition Has No Place in the Kingdom of Christ

Think about what comparison does. It isolates. It fuels insecurity. It says, “If you succeed, there’s less for me.” Let me remind you, friend: that is a lie straight from the enemy. God is not limited. Someone else’s blessing does not diminish your portion. If anything, it should remind you of the greatness of the Giver. There is no place for a scarcity mentality here - because we are cheerleaders not competitors!

The Body of Christ: Working Together in Unity

When we forget this, we start comparing, striving, and even resenting what God is doing in someone else. There are red flags there, so hold up—Scripture reminds us over and over that we are one body. A hand should not work against another hand. An elbow should not oppose an eyeball. A shoulder should not trip up a toe. Each part matters. Each part plays a role. The body can only function properly when each part works together in unity.

Celebrating Others: A Kingdom Mindset

Cheerleaders, on the other hand, celebrate progress and victory—whether or not they are the ones holding the trophy. They wave the banner of encouragement, not envy. They make noise for someone else’s moment because they know that when one part of the body thrives, the entire body benefits. They are cheerleaders not competitors!

Cheerleaders Not Competitors: Lessons from Scripture

Peter’s Overflowing Catch (Luke 5)

Luke 5 paints this picture beautifully. When Jesus told Peter to put his nets back into the water after an exhausting, fishless night, the catch was so large that the nets began to break. What was Peter’s first reaction? Did he say, “I’ve got to keep this all to myself”? No. Scripture says he signaled for his partners in the other boat to come and help (Luke 5:6-7).

What God was doing for Peter was not just about Peter. It was about blessing others. It was about enlarging the circle of provision and letting the miracle overflow into other people’s boats.

Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice (Romans 12:15)

Paul makes this clear in Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” This is not a suggestion—it is a command. A Christlike posture sees another’s success and says, “Thank You, Lord, for what You are doing in them—and through them—for all of us.”

Strength to Strength Together (Psalm 84:7)

Psalm 84 gives us another glimpse of God’s design for His people: “They go from strength to strength; till each appears before God in Zion” (v. 7). Notice the wording: they go—not he or she, but they. The psalmist is painting a picture of a people on pilgrimage together, drawing strength not just from God, but from one another, until every single one of them reaches the destination.

Cheerleaders Not Competitors: Living as a Cheerleader, Not a Competitor

When I imagine standing before the Lord at the end of my race, I don’t want to come empty-handed or with a spirit of rivalry. I want to arrive arm in arm, hand in hand, raising up my brothers and sisters, celebrating what God has done in all of us. I want to know that I spent my life building others up—not tearing them down, not comparing, not competing—but cheering until the very end. Cheerleaders not competitors!

The beautiful truth about following Christ is that this is not a race where only one person wins. There are no podiums in heaven—only crowns laid at the feet of Jesus. We are all running toward the same finish line, all pursuing the same glory—His glory.

Cheerleaders Not Competitors: Conclusion

Friend, refuse to engage in competition within the body of Christ. Let’s cheer one another on with every ounce of faith and joy we have. When we finally stand before the Lord, my prayer is that we’ll be together—arm in arm, hand in hand—celebrating the goodness of God in all of us. Truth belongs to the Lord. Every gift, calling, or opportunity He places in our hands is not for our glory, but for the benefit of the body of Christ—and when we share joyfully, when we are cheerleader not competitors, we share a treasure!

Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

That little verse holds a very big idea. Paul is telling us that when we bear one another’s burdens—when we show love in tangible, practical ways—we are actually fulfilling the law of Christ. What law? The law that Jesus Himself gave us: to love one another, and to be known by that love.

It’s one thing to talk about love, but Paul takes it a step further. He reminds us to put feet on it. Love isn’t only a feeling; it’s an action. Bearing one another’s burdens means praying for each other, lifting each other up, helping each other, and taking action to care for one another in real and practical ways.

For me, this verse is both a comfort and a conviction.

This verse comforts me because it reminds me that I am not alone. If you’ve been with me for any length of time, you know how important relationships are to me. Of course, my relationship with Jesus comes first—but investing in spiritual friendships matters to me as well. This verse reassures me that community is part of God’s design. We weren’t made to walk through life alone.

This verse convicts me because it reminds me that bearing one another’s burdens goes both ways: it means that I share your burdens and also that you share mine.

The first part—helping others—that comes naturally to me. I’m honored to pray for someone, to encourage, to step in and help however I can. But the second part—the part where I’m the one who shares my burdens—doesn’t come as easily.

Can I be vulnerable with you? Somewhere along the way, I picked up a lie: “If I’m not perfect, you won’t love me.” Because of that lie, sharing my own burdens sometimes feels risky. What if I’m rejected? What if people see my weakness and step back instead of leaning in? Maybe you can relate?

The truth is, it’s hard to let others see the places where we’re weak - but if we keep everything inside, we’re missing the fullness of what God designed community to be. (I’m not suggesting that you tell everybody everything. That wouldn’t be wise. We need to use discernment and listen to the Holy Spirit about what to share and with whom. But keeping everything to ourselves isn’t wisdom either).

One of my favorite verses that reminds me of this truth is Psalm 103:14: “The Lord knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” God knows our weaknesses. He knows our limits. Still, in His kindness, He placed us in families, in communities, and in relationships with one another so that no one has to walk alone.

Sometimes we forget that perfection was never the expectation. Yes, some people may wrongly expect it, but God never does. He sees our weaknesses, and instead of rejecting us, He meets us with compassion. That’s the same heart we should have toward one another: grace, love, and a judgment-free space where burdens can be shared.

Isaiah 40:11 gives us a beautiful picture of how God deals with us: “He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.”

What a picture of gentleness. Our Shepherd doesn’t deal harshly with us. He carries us close to His heart. He leads us with tenderness. He loves us when we’re strong and when we’re weak, when we get it right and when we get it wrong. Friend, He delights in you. On your best days and on your worst days, you are a delight to the Lord.

When we live in that freedom—resting in His love—we can extend the same freedom to others. We can walk in grace toward one another, allowing our community to be a safe place where burdens can be shared.

John 3:16 is a verse many of us learned as children: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

But we often forget to read the very next verse: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17).

Our salvation is a free gift. It’s not something we can earn, and it’s not something we can lose by not being “perfect enough.” There is no condemnation in Christ.

If that’s true, then our communities should reflect the same freedom. Bearing one another’s burdens should never come with fear or judgment. You should be able to come to me without fear, and I should be able to come to you without fear—because we’re not trying to meet an impossible standard. We’re simply living as beloved children of God.

If you serve in ministry—a pastor’s wife, pastor, small group leader, Bible study teacher—this can feel even harder. There’s a real (or sometimes imagined) pressure to appear perfect in front of those you serve. I’ve felt that too.

Let me encourage you: don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Don’t carry the weight of perfection on your shoulders. As you bear the burdens of others, also allow others to bear yours. That’s not weakness—it’s obedience.

When we do this, letting this burden sharing happen on both sides, we’re not just helping each other. We’re fulfilling the law of Christ. Let’s be the kind of people who carry each other’s burdens. Let’s create spaces where it’s safe to be honest, where grace and love flow freely, and where no one has to fear rejection.

We don’t have to be perfect to be loved—by God or by each other. And when we live that way, we fulfill the very law of Christ: to love one another as He has loved us. What a treasure that is! <3

Spiritual friendship is not just “nice to have” in the Christian life—it’s essential.

"Two are better than one... If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10

Have you ever hesitated to reach out to someone, afraid of being rejected or misunderstood? Maybe you saw someone at church who looked a little lonely, or a mom at the park who seemed like she might want a chat. You thought, “I should go say something”, but then quickly talked yourself out of it…. Let’s be honest—friendship on its own can feel risky, but being the one to make the effort ups the risk for sure. 

Let’s start with the obvious: initiating friendship feels vulnerable. You don’t know how you’ll be received. You risk feeling awkward, ignored, or even rejected. In our social-media-saturated world, it’s easy to stay in our own bubble, where we scroll, like, and comment without ever truly engaging.

From the beginning, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). While that verse speaks to marriage, the principle really is broader. We are created for connection. Scripture is full of examples of deep, godly friendships: David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, Paul and Timothy, Jesus and His disciples.

Still, we hesitate.

We tell ourselves lies like:

• She probably has enough friends already.
• What if she thinks I’m too much?
• I don’t want to come across as needy.
• I’ve been burned before—I’m not doing that again.

All of those fears are valid—but fear doesn’t get to have the final say. When it comes to godly friendship, the return on investment is greater than we can imagine. God's best for you happens in community; it's the enemy of your soul who wants you in isolation.

Jesus Himself modeled what it means to initiate relationship - we talked about this on the blog a few weeks ago.  Check it out here if you missed it!

Jesus invited Himself over. Jesus made the first move. If the Son of God was willing to reach across social barriers, awkward situations, and the opinions of others to extend friendship, shouldn’t we be willing to do the same? The truth is, anything worthwhile involves some level of risk, and that includes friendship.

Friendship doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not something we stumble into—it’s something we choose to build. Like any investment, it requires intentionality, time, and sacrifice.

I loved morning car rides with my children on the way to school when they were small many years ago. There were a couple of verses that were on the usual rotation, and one that was repeated often was Proverbs 18:24. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.” That’s not just a cute quote—it’s a reminder that friendships grow when we’re willing to plant seeds.  

Sometimes those seeds look like:

• Sending the first text.
• Asking someone to grab coffee.
• Sitting next to someone new at church.
• Starting a conversation, even when you feel awkward.

Prepare yourself: not every seed grows into a deep friendship. Some fade. Some were only meant for a season. However, some grow roots so deep that they strengthen your faith, bring you joy, and sharpen you into the person God is calling you to be. Those kinds of roots bring forth good fruit, friends who will:

• Speak truth when we’re tempted to believe lies
• Pray for us when we don’t have the words
• Celebrate our victories and mourn our losses
• Keep us accountable and point us back to Christ
• Lift us up when we feel down

That kind of friendship doesn’t just happen. It starts with someone being brave enough to go first.

Here’s the thing: you’re not the only one longing for connection. That woman you keep thinking about inviting to coffee? She might be praying for someone like you. The young mom sitting by herself at small group? She may be hoping someone notices her.

Someone is waiting for you to be bold. Not perfect. Just willing.

This week, take a step toward friendship. Plant the seeds. Show yourself friendly.

• Send the text. 
• Invite the person. 
• Sit next to someone new. 
• Smile first. 
• Speak up. 
• Be the one who reaches out.

Are you nervous or unsure? That's okay, don't let those feelings stop you. Friendship built on faith, truth, and love is worth every bit of risk and effort. Remember that Jesus made the first move toward us. He came close. He extended His hand. Let’s follow His lead.

Godly friendship is a treasure - but many times you have to make an effort to enjoy it's benefits!

p.s. I’m continuing this discussion on the podcast this week! New episode will drop on Thursday. Subscribe on Youtube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts this week so we can connect again! Here’s the link tree so we can connect!